Perrin given stay of execution

Alan Perrin's position at Portsmouth will be reassessed after the next two matches, away to Liverpool and at home to Chelsea, after he failed to deliver the minimum six points the club had targeted from their past four games.

Portsmouth's 2-0 defeat by Wigan on Saturday left them with four points from the possible 12. After playing the European Cup holders and the Premiership champions, Pompey complete a fiendish run by travelling to Manchester United and Tottenham.

United scouts watched the France Under-21 international left-back Lucien Aubey for the fourth time when his club Toulouse lost 1-0 to Lyon on Saturday. The 21-year-old has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Gabriel Heinze, who is out for the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Arsenal will offer their in-form striker Robin van Persie a new contract as they continue their policy of tying younger players to long-term deals. The Dutchman signed until the summer of 2008 when he joined from Feyenoord 18 months ago.

Keith Hackett, the Premier League's head of referees, said yesterday that he is keen to follow rugby union's lead and have the match officials miked up. He believes the move would give the public a clearer understanding of why decisions are taken and how players are dealt with.

Uefa has confirmed that Abel Xavier's B sample proved positive after his failed drugs test after the Uefa Cup game against Xanthi in September. The Middlesbrough defender will go before a Uefa control and disciplinary board this month and may face a 12-month ban.

Ladbrokes suspended betting on the next Republic of Ireland manager last night after a string of substantial bets on Terry Venables.